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Kelley Blue Book ® - 2002 Chrysler Concorde Overview

Vehicle Overview from Kelley Blue Book

KBB.com 2002 Chrysler Concorde Overview

Body

A New Name for a Familiar Face

For 2002, Chrysler has discontinued the elegant LHS sedan and graphed its more striking features onto the new Concorde. The Concorde is now available in three trim levels that include LX, LXi and Limitedthe Limited model being identical to the old LHS in all but name. Many journalists wrote that the LHS was possibly one of the most beautiful car designs ever to wear a Chrysler badge, so the Concorde's inheritance should serve it well in the marketplace. The design truly is beautiful, with long sweeping lines that fold into soft edges and merge almost seamlessly with the lenses and grille. In fact, the only visual drawback to the design is that the only place to mount a front license platesome states do require it by lawis smack-dab in the center of the stylish grille.

What makes the Concorde such a terrific buy is its sheer size. With its short hood and rear deck, the vast majority of the Concorde's body is dedicated to interior and cargo volume. This design, known as cab-forward, was pioneered by Chrysler and continues to prove popular with the public. Indeed, the Concorde is not only luxurious, it is cavernous as well, affording real comfort for three adult-sized rear-seat passengers. You may want to take note that the elongated roof design places a portion of the rear window directly above the heads of the rear seat passengers, a situation that might prove uncomfortable for tall passengers whose heads might bump against the hard glass as opposed to the padded roof liner.

The Concorde offers three different power plants, all of the V6 variety. LX models come equipped with a 2.7-liter engine that delivers 200 horsepower. This engine is competent enough to handle the Concorde's weight, but it's no rocket and tends to growl loudly under full throttle. The LXi receives a more compatible engine choice; a 3.5-liter all-aluminum V6 that increases horsepower to 234 and features significantly better torque. The LXi is much quicker off the line and is capable of delivering the added kick required during passing and merging maneuvers. The Concorde Limited gets the high-output version of the 3.5-liter found in the 300M rated at 250 horsepower. The 3.5-liter engines have been vastly improved over the years and are much quieter at full throttle than previous generations. All the Concordes use Chrysler's 4-speed automatic transmission, though the Autostick feature available on the 300M and Dodge Intrepid is not offered on the Concorde.

It takes only a few minutes behind the wheel of the Concorde to become completely smitten with the car. The firm steering and nicely weighted wheel empower you with the sense that you are in firm control. The steering, brakes and suspension telegraph just enough road feel to let you know how the car is behaving and what the road surface is like without feeling it in the seat of your pants. The Concorde's suspension is tuned to provide a luxuriously smooth ride, which it does, but its LH car underpinnings give it a sporting edge that cannot be hidden and which most drivers will probably come to love. The excellent interior appointments, especially on the LXi and Limited models, further heighten the driving experience. The Concorde has one of the most comfortable set of front bucket seats you'll find in this or any other class. The contours seem to fit your body as though they were custom cut, and the adjustable lumbar support does a good job of minimizing lower back fatigue on long drives. Rear seat passengers will be equally happy, even if they are of the long-legged variety and love to stretch out.

The Concorde aims to please all of your senses, not just the visual. To delight your sense of touch and smell, the Concorde LXi and Limited offer supple leather interiors in a choice of colors; the Limited models also offer genuine California Walnut trim on the dash and steering wheel. To please your ears, there is an array of available audio options including a 240-watt Infinity Spatial Imaging system with nine speakers (Limited model only) and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. The Concorde also features a long list of standard and optional equipment that should satisfy even the most discerning consumer.